Tracking method and configuration for carrying out the method

A configuration for tracking a locally generated spread spectrum signal sequence, comprising:

• a delay locked loop configuration including at least two control loops, each control loop correlating a locally generated early spread spectrum signal sequence and a locally generated late spread spectrum signal sequence with a received spread spectrum signal sequence;
• said at least two control loops having different early and late intervals and having respective inputs for inputting the received spread spectrum signal sequence, said at least two control loops being connected in parallel at said respective inputs;
• said at least two control loops including a first control loop and a second control loop, said first control loop having a first output and having a relatively smaller early and late interval, said second control loop having a second output and having a relatively next-larger early and late interval;
• a comparator, connected to said first output and to said second output, for comparing output signals from said first control loop and said second control loop;
• and
• a data processing unit connected to said comparator.

A method of tracking a locally generated spread spectrum signal sequence, the method which comprises:

• correlating a received spread spectrum signal sequence with the locally generated spread spectrum signal sequence with respect to a synchronization time at a relatively earlier time and a relatively later time in an early and late interval using at least two hierarchically staggered closed-loop controls with different early and late intervals, wherein an early interval of a first one of the at least two hierarchically staggered closed-loop controls has a relatively smaller early and late interval such that the early interval of the first one of the at least two hierarchically staggered closed-loop controls does not become earlier than an early interval of a second one of the at least two hierarchically staggered closed-loop controls having a relatively next-larger early and late interval, and wherein a late interval of the first one of the at least two hierarchically staggered closed-loop controls is such that the late interval of the first one of the at least two hierarchically staggered closed-loop controls does not become later than a late interval of the second one of the at least two hierarchically staggered closed-loop controls;
• subtracting correlation responses from one another;
• and
• controlling a clock of the locally generated spread spectrum signal sequence as a function of a result of the subtracting step for synchronizing the locally generated spread spectrum signal sequence with the received spread spectrum signal sequence corresponding to the locally generated spread spectrum signal sequence.